THE MANIPUR (VILLAGE AUTHORITIES IN HILL AREAS) ACT, 1956 
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS OF VILLAGE AUTHORITIES 

3.  Constitution of Village Authorities. 
4.  Qualifications for membership of Village Authorities. 
5.  Disqualifications for membership of Village Authorities. 
6.  Term of office of members of Village Authorities. 
7.  Election of members of Village Authorities. 
8.  Power to remove members of Village Authorities. 
9.  Resignation of members. 
10.  Filling of causal vacancies. 
11.  Bar to interference by courts in election matters. 
12.  Election disputes. 
13.  Validation of acts and proceedings. 
14.  Incorporation of Village Authorities. 
15.  Control of Village Authorities by sub-divisional magistrate. 
16.  Functions of Village Authorities. 
17.  Obligation to assist Village Authorities. 
18.  Power of Chief Commissioner to call for records of Village Authorities, sub-divisional magistrate 

or Deputy Commissioner. 
19.  Constitution of village courts. 
20.  Jurisdiction of village courts in criminal cases. 

CHAPTER III 

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BY VILLAGE AUTHORITIES 

21.  How cases may be instituted. 
22.  Power of village courts to dismiss or refuse to entertain complaint. 
23.  Dismissal of case for default. 
24.  Proceedings preliminary to trial. 
25.  Bar to appeal from the order of village courts, but power to order retrial. 
26.  Power of village courts to impose fine or to award compensation. 
27.  Power of village to release certain offenders after admonition or on probation of good conduct. 
28.  Power of village courts to permit compounding of offences. 
29.  Power to transfer criminal cases. 
30.  Jurisdiction of village courts in civil cases. 
31.  Certain suits not to be tried by village courts. 
32.  Local limits of jurisdiction of village courts. 

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SECTIONS 

33.  How suits may be instituted. 
34.  Suits barred by limitation are not triable by village courts. 
35.  Dismissal of suits for default. 
36.  Summons to defendants to appear and answer. 
37.  Ex parte decision 
38.  No order to be set aside without notice to opposite party. 
39.  Power of village courts to determine necessary parties. 
40.  Certain suits not to be tried by village courts. 
41.  Decision of village courts. 
42.  Instalments. 
43.  Decision of village court to be final; but power to order retrial. 
44.  Death of parties. 
45.  Fees. 
46.  Execution of decree. 
47.  Limitation for execution of decree or order. 
48.  Procedure before village courts. 
49.  Persons who are to preside over village courts. 
50.  Village courts not to try any case or suiting in which the Village authority or any member thereof 

is interested. 

51.  Attendance of witnesses. 
52.  Appearance of parties before village courts. 
53.  Appearance of women. 
54.  Realisation of fees, fines, etc. 
55.  Registers and records. 
56.  Language of village courts. 

CHAPTER IV 

MISCELLANEOUS 

57.  Power to make rules. 
58.  Repeal and savings. 
THE SCHEDULE. 

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THE MANIPUR (VILLAGE AUTHORITIES IN HILL AREAS) ACT, 1956 

ACT NO. 80 OF 1956 

An  Act  to  consolidate  and  amend  the  law  relating  to  the  constitution  and  functions  of  Village 

Authorities in the hill areas of the Union territory of Manipur. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follow:— 

[22nd December, 1956.] 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Manipur 

(Village  Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956. 

(2) It extends to the whole of the hill areas of the Union territory of Manipur. 
(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. Definitions.—In this  Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a) “Chief Commissioner” means the Chief Commissioner of Manipur; 

(b)  “Deputy  Commissioner”  means  the  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Manipur  and  includes  the 

Additional Deputy commissioner thereof; 

(c) “heinous offence” means— 

(i)  any of the following offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), that is 
to  say,  any  offence  under  Chapter  VI,  rioting,  any  offence  under  Chapter  XII,  murder, 
culpable  homicide not amounting to murder, grievous hurt, kidnapping or abducting in order to 
subject  a  person  to  slavery,  buying  or  disposing  of  any  person  as  a  slave,  habitual  dealing  in 
slaves, rape, robbery, dacoity, mischief by fire or explosive substance, and house breaking; 

(ii) any offence punishable under the Indian Arms Act, 1878 (11 of 1878); 

and  includes  any  attempt,  preparation  or  conspiracy  to  commit,  and  abetment  of,  any  of  the  offences 
specified in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii); 

(d) “hill areas” mean such areas in the Hill tracts of the Union territory of Manipur as the Chief 

Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be hill areas; 

(e) “legal practitioner” includes a pleader, mukhtar or revenue-agent; 

(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

CHAPTER II 

CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS OF VILLAGE AUTHORITIES 

3. Constitution of Village Authorities.—(1) For every village having twenty or more tax-paying houses 
there shall be a village Authority consisting of— 

(a) five members, where the number of tax-paying houses in the village is not less than twenty 

but is not more than sixty; 

(b) seven members, where the number of tax-paying houses in the village is more than sixty but is 

not more than one hundred; 

(c) ten members, where the number of tax-paying houses in the village is more than one hundred 

but is not more than one hundred and fifty; 

1. 18th April, 1957, vide notification No. S.R.O.  88, dated 7th January, 1957, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3. 

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(d)  twelve  members,  where  the  number  of  tax-paying  houses  in  the  village  is  more  than  one 

hundred and fifty. 

(2)  The  Chief  Commissioner  may,  having  regard  to  the  general  interests  of  the  people  of  any 
village   as  also to  the  demand,  if  any,  from  the  people  of that  village  for  an  elected  Village  Authority, 
declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that the village shall have  an elected Village Authority, 
and thereupon the members of the Village Authority of that village shall be elected in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder. 

(3) Where no declaration under sub-section (2) has been made in relation to any village the members 

of the Village Authority of that village shall be nominated by the Chief Commissioner. 

(4)  Where  there  is  a  Chief  Khulakpa  in  a  village,  he  shall  be  the  ex  officio  chairman  of  the 
Village   Authority  of  that  village;  and  where  there  is  no  such  Chief  or  Khulakpa  in  the  village,  the 
chairman of the village Authority of that village shall be elected by the members of the Village Authority 
from among themselves. 

4.  Qualifications  for  membership  of  Village  Authorities.—A  person  shall  not  be  qualified  to  be 

chosen as a member of a Village Authority unless he— 

(a) is a citizen of India; 

(b) is not less than twenty-five years of age; and 

(c) in the case of membership of an elected Village Authority, is registered in the electoral roll as 

a voter for the election of a member of the Village Authority. 

5.  Disqualifications  for  membership  of  Village  Authorities.—A  person  shall  be  disqualified  for 

being chosen as, and for being, a member of a Village Authority,— 

 (a) if he is a member of any other Village Authority; 

(b) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent authority. 

6. Term of office of members of Village Authorities.—The term of office of members of a Village 

Authority shall be three years from the date appointed for its first meeting. 

7. Election of members of Village Authorities.—The election of members of the Village Authority 
of a village shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and 
who is ordinarily resident in the village and is not less than twenty-one years of age on such date as may 
be fixed by rules made under this Act, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election. 

 Explanation.—A person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in a village if he ordinarily resides 

in that village or owns, or is in possession of, a dwelling house therein. 

8. Power to remove members of Village Authorities.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner may remove 

any member of a Village Authority from his office— 

(a) who is convicted of any non-bailable offence; or 

(b) who refuses to act, or becomes incapable of acting, or is declared to be insolvent; or 

(c) who has been declared by notification to be disqualified for employment in the public service; 

or 

(d) who, without an excuse sufficient in the opinion of the Deputy Commissioner, absents himself 

from six consecutive meetings of the Village Authority; or 

(e)  who  has  been  guilty  of  misconduct  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  or  of  any  disgraceful 
conduct,  if  two-thirds  of  the  total  number  of  the  members  of  the  Village  Authority  at  a  meeting 
recommend his removal. 

(2) No person who has been removed from his office under clause (a) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) 
shall  be  eligible  for  re-nomination  or  re-election  except  with  the  previous  permission  of  the  Chief 
Commissioner obtained by such person in the prescribed manner. 

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9.  Resignation  of  members.—A  member  of  a  Village  Authority  may  resign  his  office  by  writing 
under   his  hand  addressed  to  the  chairman  of  the  Authority  but  shall  continue   in  office  until  his 
resignation has been accepted in a meeting of the Authority. 

10.  Filling  of  causal  vacancies.—When  the  office  of  a  member  of  a  Village  Authority  becomes 
vacant  by  his  removal,  resignation  or  death,  a  new  member  shall  be  nominated  or  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy and shall hold office so long as the member whose place   he fills would have been entitled to 
hold office if such vacancy had not occurred.  

11.  Bar  to  interference  by  courts  in  election  matters.—No  election  of  a  member  of  a  Village 

Authority shall be called in question in any court, and no court shall grant an injunction,— 

(a) to postpone the election of a member of a Village Authority; or 

(b) to prohibit a person, declared to have been duly elected under this Act, from taking part in the 

proceedings of a Village Authority of which he has been elected a member; of 

(c)  to  prohibit  members  nominated  or  elected  for  a  Village  Authority  from  entering  upon  their 

duties. 

12.  Election  disputes.—(1)  If  a  dispute  arises  as  to  the  election  of  any  member  of  a  Village 
Authority,  the  matter  shall  be  referred  to  the  Deputy  Commissioner  who  shall  decide  the  same  after 
giving notice to the parties concerned and after taking such evidence as may be produced. 

(2) The order of the Deputy Commissioner may, within thirty days from the date thereof, be revised 

by the Chief Commissioner whose decision shall be final and shall not be questioned in any court. 

13.  Validation  of  acts  and  proceedings.—No  Act  done  or  proceedings  taken  by  a  Village 

Authority  under this Act shall be questioned on the ground merely of— 

(a) the existence of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Village Authority; 

(b) any defect or irregularity not affecting the merits of the case. 

14. Incorporation of Village Authorities.—Every Village Authority shall be a body corporate by the 
name of the village for which it is constituted and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and 
shall  by  the  said  name  sue  and  be  sued,  with  power  to  acquire,  hold  and  dispose  of  property,  both 
movable and immovable, and to contract and do all other things necessary for the purposes of this Act. 

15.  Control  of  Village  Authorities  by  sub-divisional  magistrate.—Subject  to  the  general 
superintendence and control of the Deputy commissioner, the sub-divisional magistrate shall have control 
over all the Village Authorities within the local limits of his jurisdiction. 

16. Functions of Village Authorities.—(1) Every Village Authority constituted under this Act shall, 

within the local limits of its jurisdiction, perform the following functions, namely:— 

(a) it  shall, to  the  best  of  its  ability  maintain  law  and  order  and for there  purpose  exercise and 
perform the powers and duties generally conferred and imposed on the police by or under the Police 
Act, 1861 (5 of 1861): 

Provided that a Village Authority shall not be deemed to be a police officer within the meaning of 
sections  25  and  16  of  the  Indian  Evidence  Act,  1872  (1  of  1872),  or  section  162  of  the  Code  of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898); 

(b) it shall cause to be arrested without any order from a magistrate and without a warrant— 

(i) any person who is a vagrant or commits a heinous offence or who has been concerned in 
any such offence or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information 
has been received or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, 

(ii) any person against whom a hue and cry has been raised on the ground of his having been 
concerned in any heinous offence, whether such offence has been or is being committed within its 
jurisdiction or outside it, 

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(iii)  any  person  for  whose  arrest  a  requisition  has  been  received  from  a  police  officer; 
provided that the requisition specifies  the person to be arrested and the offence or other cause for 
which the arrest is to be made or it appears therefrom that the person might lawfully be arrested 
without a warrant by the officer who issued the requisition, 

(iv) any person designing to commit any heinous offence of which the Village Authority has 

knowledge, if the commission of offence cannot otherwise be prevented, 

(v) any person who obstructs the Village Authority in the performance of its functions under 

this Act or rules made thereunder or a police officer while in the execution of his duty, and 

(vi) any person who has escaped, or attempts to escape, from lawful custody: 

Provided  that  where  a  Village  Authority  is  unable  to  arrest  an  offender  it  shall  forthwith 
report  the  matter  to  the  sub-divisional  magistrate  who  shall  provide  the  Village  Authority  with 
such assistance as it requires: 

Provided  further  that  the  Village  Authority  may  pursue  beyond  the  local  limits  of  its 
jurisdiction  any  person  who  has  committed  a  heinous  offence  or  is  a  vagrant  or  of  bad  or 
suspicious  character,  and  arrest  such  person  outside  the  local  limits  of  its  jurisdiction  with  the 
consent of the Village Authority within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the person pursued 
is found; 

(c)  it  shall  give  immediate  information  to  the  sub-divisional  magistrate  of  every  unnatural, 
suspicious or sudden death which may occur, and of any heinous offence which may be committed, 
within the local limits of its jurisdiction and shall keep the sub-divisional magistrate informed of all 
disputes which are likely to lead to a riot or serious affray; and 

 (d) it shall supply any information which any police officer or the sub-divisional magistrate or 

the Deputy commissioner may require from it. 

(2) No person who is arrested under this section shall be detained in custody without being informed, 

as soon as may be, of the grounds of such arrest. 

(3)  Every  person  who  is  arrested  and  detained  in  custody  shall   be  produced  before  the  nearest 
magistrate  within  a  period  of  twenty  four  hours  of  such  arrest  excluding  the  time  necessary  for  the 
journey  from  the  place  of  arrest  to  the  court  of  the  magistrate  and  no  such  person  shall  be  detained  in 
custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate. 

17.  Obligation  to  assist  Village  Authorities.—(1)  Every  person  shall  be  bound  to  render,  to  a 
Village Authority performing the functions under this Act, all the assistance which he is bound to render 
to  a  police  officer  under  section  42  of  the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure,  1898  (5  of  1898),  and  every 
person  who  refuses  or  neglects  to  comply  with  any  requisition  for  such  assistance  shall  be  punishable 
with fine may extend to— 

(a)   two hundred rupees, where the sentence passed by a Village court; or 

(b) five hundred rupees, where the sentence is passed by the court of a sub-divisional magistrate. 

(2) Against an order passed under sub-section (1) an appeal shall lie— 

  (a) to the court of sub-divisional magistrate, where the order is passed by a village court; 

  (b)  to  the  court  of  session,  where  the  order  is  passed  by  the  court  of  the                                          

sub-divisional  magistrate, 

within period of thirty days from the date of such order or within such longer period as the appellate court 
may allow: 

 Provided that no appeal shall lie in any case in which a village court passes a sentence of fine not 
exceeding twenty rupees or in any case in which the court of a sub-divisional magistrate passes a sentence 
of fine not exceeding one hundred rupees. 

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18.  Power  of  chief  Commissioner  to  call  for  records  of  Village  Authorities,  sub-divisional 
magistrate or Deputy Commissioner.—The Chief Commissioner may at any time call for and examine 
the  record  of  any  proceeding  before  a  Village  Authority,  village  court,  sub-divisional  magistrate  or 
Deputy Commissioner under section 17 for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the correctness, legality 
or propriety of any finding, sentence or order recorded or passed and after perusing the record set aside, 
modify or  confirm such finding, sentence or order: 

Provided  that  where  an  order  has  been  made  by  the  court  of  session  in  an  appeal  preferred  under           

sub-section (2) of section 17, the Chief Commissioner shall not interfere with such appellate order.  

CHAPTER III 

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BY VILLAGE AUTHORITIES 

19.  Constitution  of  village  courts.—Whenever  a  Village  Authority  has  been  constituted  for  any 
village, the Chief Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint any two or more of 
the members of the Village Authority to be a village court during their term of office as members of the 
Village Authority. 

20.  Jurisdiction  of  village  courts  in  criminal  cases.—Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  the 
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), the village court shall have jurisdiction concurrent with 
that of the criminal court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction  the village is situated for the trial of 
all offences specified in the Schedule. 

21.  How  cases  may  be  instituted.—(1)  A  case  before   a  village  court  may  be  instituted  by  a 

complaint, made orally or in writing, to a member of the village court. 

(2) If the complaint is made orally, the member shall record the name of the complainant, the name of 
the person against whom the complaint is made, the nature of the offence and such other particulars, if 
any, as may be, prescribed, and shall direct the complainant to appear before the village court. 

22. Power of village courts to dismiss or refuse to entertain complaint.—(1) If upon the fact of the 
complaint, or on examining the complaint, the village court is of opinion that the complaint is frivolous 
vexatious or untrue, it shall dismiss the case by order in writing. 

(2) If at any time it appears to the village court— 

(a) that it has no jurisdiction to cry the case, or 

(b) that the offence is one for which the sentence which the court is competent to pass would be 

inadequate, or 

(c) that the case is one which should not be tried by the court, 

it shall direct the complainant to the  proper court. 

 23.  Dismissal  of  case  for  default.—If  in  any  case  before  a  village  court  the  complainant  fails  to 
appear on the day fixed, or if in the opinion of the court he shows negligence in prosecuting his case, the 
court may dismiss the case for default, and such order of dismissal shall operate as an acquittal. 

24. Proceedings preliminary to trial.—(1) If the complaint is not dismissed, the village court shall, 
subject  to   the  provisions  of  section  53,  by  summons  or  otherwise  require  the  accused  to  appear  and 
answer the complaint. 

(2)  If  the  accused  fails  to  appear  or  cannot  be  found,  the  court  shall  report  the  fact  to  the  nearest 
magistrate, who may issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused and when arrested may forward him for 
trial to the village court or release him on bail to appear before it. 

(3)  The  village  court  shall,  if  possible,  try  the  case  on  the  day  on  which  the  accused  appears  or  is 
brought before it; but if that is not possible, the village court shall release him on his executing a bond for 
a sum not exceeding two hundred rupees to appear before the court on any subsequent day to which the 
trial may be adjourned. 

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25. Bar to appeal from the order of village courts, but power to order retrial.—Notwithstanding 
anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), there shall be no appeal by a 
convicted person in any case tried by a village court: 

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner or the sub-divisional magistrate, if satisfied that a failure of 
justice  has  occurred,  may,  of  his  own  motion  or  on  the  application  of  the  parties  concerned,  cancel  or 
modify  any  order  of  conviction  or  of compensation made  by  a  village  court  or  direct  the  retrial  of  any 
case by a court of competent jurisdiction subordinate to him. 

26. Power of village courts to impose fine or to award compensation.—(1) A village court shall 
record its decision in writing and may sentence an offender convicted by it to pay a fine not exceeding 
two hundred rupees or in default to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month. 

(2) When a village court imposes a fine under sub-section (1), it may, when passing the order, direct 
that whole or any part of the fine recovered shall be applied in payment of compensation for any loss or 
injury caused by the offence. 

(3) When a person has been  sentenced to imprisonment under sub-section (1) in default  of payment 
of fine, if such  fine be not paid within ten days of the passing of the sentence or within such further time, 
if any, as the village court may allow, the court may cause him to be arrested and may commit him to the 
nearest jail to serve his sentence: 

Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)— 

(a) the fine imposed by a village court shall not be realised from any person who has served  his 

term of imprisonment under this section; 

(b)  the  person  serving  his  term  of  imprisonment  shall  be  forthwith  released,  if  the  fine  is  paid 

before the expiry of the term of imprisonment: 

Provided further that no woman shall be sentenced to imprisonment in default of payment of fine. 

27.  Power  of  village  courts  to  release  certain  offenders  after  admonition  or  on  probation  of 
good conduct.—When any person is  convicted by a  village court of an offence punishable under section 
26  and no previous conviction is proved against him, if it appears to the said court, regard being had to 
the  age,  character  and  antecedents  of  the  offender  and  the  circumstances  in  which  the  offence  was 
committed, that it is expedient— 

(a)  that  the  offender  should  be  released  after  due  admonition,  the  village  court  may  instead  of 

sentencing him to any punishment, release him after due admonition; or 

(b)  that  the  offender  should  be  released  on  probation  of   good  conduct,  the  village  court  may, 
notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), instead of 
sentencing him at once to any punishment, direct that he be released on his executing a bond for a 
sum not exceeding two hundred rupees to appear and receive sentence when called upon during such 
period not exceeding one year as the village court may direct, and in the meantime to keep the peace 
and be of good behaviour. 

28.  Power  of  village  courts  to  permit  compounding  of  offences.—Notwithstanding  anything 
contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), the village court may allow the parties to 
compound any offence tried by it. 

29. Power to transfer criminal cases.—The Deputy Commissioner or the sub-divisional magistrate, 
either on application made to him in this behalf, or on his own motion, may transfer any case from one 
village court to another or to any other court subordinate to him. 

30. Jurisdiction of village courts in civil cases.—Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code 
of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or in any other law for the time being in force, but subject to the 
provisions  of  section  31  and  section  32,  the  village  court  and  the  ordinary  civil  court,  within  the  local 
limits of whose jurisdiction the village is situated, shall have concurrent jurisdiction to try the following 
classes of suits, namely:— 

(a) suits for money due on contracts; 

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(b) suits for the recovery of movable property or the value of such property; 

(c) suits for compensation for wrongfully taking or injuring movable property; and 

(d) suits for damages by cattle trespass; 

when the value of the suit does not exceed five hundred rupees. 

31. Certain suits not to be tried by village courts.—No suit shall lie in any village court— 

(a) on a balance of partnership account, 

(b)  for  a  share  or  part  of  a  share  under  an  intestacy  of  for  a  legacy  or  part  of  a  legacy  under 

a  will, 

(c) by or against the Government or public officers in their official capacity, 

(d) by or  against minors or persons of unsound mind. 

(e) for the assessment, enhancement, reduction, abetment, apportionment, or recovery of rent of 

immovable property. 

(f) for recovery of immovable property, or 

(g) for enforcement or redemption of a mortgage of immovable property. 

32. Local limits of jurisdiction  of village courts.—No suit shall lie in any village court, unless at 
least one of the defendants resides within the local limits of its jurisdiction at the time of the institution of 
the suit, and the cause of action has arisen wholly or in part within those limits. 

33. How suits may be instituted.—(1) A suit before a village court may be instituted by a petition 
made orally or in writing, and if the petition, is made orally, the court shall record such particulars as may 
be prescribed. 

(2) The plaintiff on instituting his suit shall state the value of the claim. 

34.  Suits  barred  by  limitation  are  not  triable  by  village  courts.—(1)  If  at  any  time  the  village 
court is of opinion  that  the  suit is  barred  by  limitation,  the  court shall,  by  order  in  writing,  dismiss  the 
suits. 

(2) If at any time it appears to the village court that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit, the court 

shall direct the plaintiff to the proper court. 

35. Dismissal of suits for default.—If in any suit before a village court the plaintiff fails to appear on 
the date fixed or if in the opinion of the court he shows negligence in prosecuting his suit, the court may 
dismiss the suit for default: 

Provided that a village court may restore a suit dismissed for default, if within thirty days from the 
date  of  such  dismissal  the  plaintiff  satisfies  the  court  that  he  was  prevented  by  sufficient  cause  from 
appearing on the date fixed. 

36. Summons to defendants to appear and answer.—If on receiving the petition the village court is 
satisfied that the trial of the suit may be proceeded with, it shall by summons or otherwise require  the 
defendant to appear and answer orally or in writing the claim made in the suit. 

37. Ex parte decision.—If the defendant fails to appear and the village court is satisfied that he has 

received notice of the date fixed for hearing, the court may  decide the suit ex parte: 

Provided that any defendant against whom a suit has been decided  ex parte may, within thirty days 
from the date of executing any processes for enforcement of the decision, apply orally or in writing, to the 
village court to set aside the order; and the court, if satisfied, that the defendant did not receive due notice 
of the date of hearing or was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing on the date  fixed, shall set 
aside the decision and shall appoint a day for proceeding with the suit. 

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38. No order to be set aside without notice to opposite party.—No decision or order or a village 
court  shall  be  set  aside  under  section  35  or  section  37  unless  notice  in  writing  has  been  served  by  the 
village court on the opposite party in the prescribed manner. 

39.  Power  of  village  courts  to  determine  necessary  parties.—(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  
clause  (c)  or  clause  (d)  of  section  31  the  village  court  may  add  as  parties  to  a  suit  any  persons  whose 
presence  as  parties  it  considers  necessary  for  the  proper  decision  thereof,  and  shall  enter  the  names  of 
such  parties  in  the  register  of  suits,  and  the  suit  shall  be  tried  as  between  the  parties  whose  names  are 
entered in the said register: 

Provided  that  when  any  party  is  added,  notice  shall  be  given  to  him  and  he  shall  be  given  an 

opportunity of appearing before the trial of the suit is proceeded with. 

(2) In all cases where a new party appears under the proviso to sub-section (1) during the trial of a 

suit, he may require that the trial shall begin de novo. 

40. Certain suits not to be tried by village courts.—No village court shall proceed with the trial of 
any  suit in  which  the  matter  directly  and     substantially  in   dispute  is  pending  for  decision  in  the  same 
court  or  in  any  other  court  in  a  previously  instituted  suit  between  the  same  parties  or  between  parties 
under whom they or any of them claim, or has been heard and finally decided in a suit between the same 
parties, or between parties under whom they or any of them claim. 

41. Decision of village courts.—When the parties or their agents have been heard and the evidence 
on  both  sides  considered,  the  village  court  shall,  by  written  order,  pass  such  decree  as  may  seem  just, 
equitable  and  according  to  good  conscience,  stating  in  the  decree  the  amounts  payable  as  fees  under 
section  45,  and  the  amount,  if  any,  paid  to  witnesses  under  section  51  and  the  persons  by  whom  such 
amounts are payable. 

42. Instalments.—A village court in ordering the payment of a sum of money or the delivery of any 
movable property may direct that the money be paid or the movable property be delivered, by instalments. 

43.  Decision  of  village  court  to  be  final;  but  power  to  order  retrial.—The  decision  of  a  village 

court in any suit shall be final as between the parties to the suits: 

Provided that the district judge may on application of any party to the suit made within thirty days 
from the date of the decree of the village court, cancel or modify the decree or order of the village court or 
direct a retrial of the suit by the same or any other village court or by any other court subordinate to him if 
he is satisfied that there has been a failure of justice. 

44. Death of parties.—If the plaintiff or defendant in any suit dies before the suit has been decided, 
the suit may, subject to the provisions of clause (d) of section 31, be proceeded with at the instance of or 
against the legal representatives of the deceased plaintiff or defendant, as the case may be. 

45. Fees.—(1) In all suits instituted in a village court a fee of one anna in the rupee shall be payable 
in  advance by the plaintiff on the amount of the claim upto fifty rupees, and of half anna for every rupee 
of the claim above fifty rupees, and such fees shall not be paid to either party. 

(2) If the claim in the suit is decreed in full, the amount equal to the fee shall be realised from the 

judgement-debtor together with the amount decreed. 

(3) If the claim in a suit is decreed in part, an amount equal to a proportionate part of the fee shall be 

realised from the judgement-debtor together with the amount decreed. 

(4) Any amount realised under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) shall be paid to the decree-holder. 

46.  Execution  of  decree.—(1)  If  the  village  court  passing  a  decree  is  unable  to  effect  satisfaction 
thereof,  it  shall  grant  the  decree-holder  a  certificate  to  that  effect  stating  the  amount  due  to  him  on 
account of the decree and the amount due on account of fees under section 45. 

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(2) Any decree-holder wishing to execute a decree of a village court may apply to the court of the 
munsiff  within  the  local  limits  of  whose  jurisdiction  the  village  is  situated  and  shall  present  with  his 
application a certified copy of the decree of the village court; but no application for execution shall be 
entertained by the court of the munsiff,— 

(a) unless the village court has certified that it is a unable to effect satisfaction of the decree, and 

(b) unless the application is made after the expiry of three months from the date of the decree. 

(3) In executing a decree of the village court the court of the munsiff shall have the same powers and 

shall follow the same procedure as if it were executing a decree passed by itself. 

47.  Limitation  for  execution  of  decree  or  order.—An  application  for  execution  of  a  decree  of  a 

village  court  made  after  the  expiry  of  three  years  from  the  date  of  the  decree  or  of  any  order  under   
section 43 modifying any such decree, shall be dismissed, although limitation has not been pleaded: 

Provided that where the application is made for execution of a decree or order to enforce payment of 
a sum of money or delivery of any movable  property which the decree or order directs to be made at a 
certain date, the application may be made within three years from that date. 

48. Procedure before village courts.—(1) The provisions of— 

(a) the Court Fees Act, 1870 (7 of 1870), 

(b) the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), and 

(c) the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), 

shall not apply to any trial or any criminal case or civil suit before a village court. 

(2)  The  procedure  to  be  followed  by  a  village  court  in  any  criminal  case  or  civil  suit  and  in  the 
enforcement of its decisions, sentences, decrees and orders, and in the method of forming a quorum shall 
be prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

(3) The  Indian  Evidence  Act,  1872 (1  of  1872) shall not  apply  in  the  trial of any  case  or  suit  by  a 

village court but the village court shall observe as far as possible the principles underlying that Act. 

49. Persons who are to preside over village courts.—(1) The village court shall be presided over by 

the chairman of the Village Authority if he is a member of the court. 

(2) If the chairman of the Village Authority is absent from a sitting of the village suit of if he is not a 

member of the court shall  elect its own President. 

(3) In the case of difference of opinion among the members of the court the opinion of the majority 
shall  prevail  and  the  decisions  and  orders  of  the  court  shall  be  expressed  in  terms  of  the  views  of  the 
majority. 

(4)  In  the  case  of  an  equality  of  votes  the  person  presiding  over  the  court  shall  have  a  second  or 

casting vote. 

50. Village courts not to try any case or suiting in which the Village Authority or any member 
thereof is interested.—No village court shall try any criminal case or any civil suit to or in which the 
Village Authority or any member thereof is a party or is interested. 

51.  Attendance  of  witnesses.—(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  section  53  a  village  court  may  by 
summons  or  otherwise   send  for  any  person  to  appear  and  give  evidence  or  to  produce  or  cause  the 
production of any document. 

(2) A village court shall refuse to summon a witness or to enforce a summons already issued against a 
witness,  where  in the  opinion  of  the  court  the  attendance  of the witness cannot  be  procured  without an 
amount  of  delay,  expense,  or  inconvenience  which  under  the  circumstances  of  the  case  would  be 
unreasonable. 

(3) A village court shall not require any person living at a distance of five miles or more from the seat 
of the village court to give evidence or produce any document unless such sum of money be paid to him 

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as appears to the court to be sufficient to defray his travelling and other expenses in passing to and from 
the court and for one day's attendance. 

(4) If any person whom a village court summons by  written order to appear or give evidence or to 
produce any document before it, fails to obey such summons, such person shall be guilty of an offence 
and the village court may take cognizance of such offence and may sentence any person convicted thereof 
to a fine not exceeding twenty-five rupees. 

52.  Appearance  of  parties  before  village  courts.—(1)  The  parties  to  criminal  cases  triable  by  a 

village court shall appear personally before the court: 

Provided that the village court, if it sees reason so to do, may dispense with the personal attendance of 

the accused and permit him to appear by agent. 

(2) The parties to civil suits triable by a village court may appear by agent. 

Explanation.—In sub-section (1) and sub-section (2), “agent” means a full-time servant or a partner or 
a relative of the party whom the village court may admit as a fit person to represent that party and who is 
authorised to appear and plead for such party. 

(3)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  any  law,  legal  practitioners  shall  not  be  permitted  to 

practice before a village court. 

53. Appearance of women.—No woman shall, against her will, be compelled to  appear in person 

before a village court as an accused or as a party or as a witness. 

54.  Realisation  of fees, fines,  etc.—All  fees and fines  imposed,  all  sums  decreed  or  compensation 
awarded and all sums due on bonds under this Act may be realised under orders of the village court in 
such manner as may be prescribed. 

55. Registers and records.—Every village court shall maintain registers and records and submit such 

returns as may be prescribed. 

56. Language of village courts.—All proceedings before a village court shall be Manipuri.  

CHAPTER IV 

MISCELLANEOUS 

 57.  Power  to  make  rules.—(1)  The  Chief  Commissioner  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 

Gazette, make rules for carrying out  the purposes of this Act. 

(2)  In  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) the preparation, revision and final publication of electoral rolls for election of members of a 

Village Authority and the particulars to be entered in such rolls; 

(b) the preliminary publication of electoral rolls in the village to which they relate; 

(c) the manner in which and the time within which claims and objections as to entries in electoral 

rolls may be preferred and the authority by whom such claims and objections may be decided; 

(d)  the  nomination  of  candidates,  the  time  and  manner  of  holding  elections  and  the  manner  in 

which votes shall be given; 

(e)  any  other  matter  relating  to  elections  to  Village  Authorities  or  election  disputes  arising 

therefrom; 

(f)  the  regulation  of  the  conduct  of  business  of  the  Village  Authorities  and  the  number  of 

members necessary to form a quorum; 

(g)  the  registers  and  records  to  be  maintained  and  the  returns  to  be  submitted  by  Village 

Authorities and village courts and the particulars to be entered in such registers, records and returns; 

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(h) the procedure to be followed by a village court in the institution, trial and disposal of criminal 

cases and civil suits and the number of members necessary to form a quorum  of a village court; 

(i) the issue, service or execution of summons and other processes by village courts and the issue 

and service of notice by village Authorities; 

(j) the procedure for the transfer of criminal cases and civil suits from one village court to another 

village court or to any other court; 

(k) the procedure for the execution of decrees, orders and sentences of village courts; 

(l)  the  fees  to  be  levied  by  village  courts  for  copies  of  documents  and  the  procedure  to  be 

followed in furnishing such copies; and 

(m) any other mater which has to be or may be prescribed under this Act. 

58. Repeal and savings.—The Manipur State Hill Peoples (Administration) Regulation, 1947, in so 
far as it relates to the constitution and functions of village Authorities and the administration of justice, 
both civil and criminal, by courts of village Authorities, is hereby repealed: 

Provided that the said repeal shall not affect— 

(a) the previous operation of the said Regulation, or 

(b)  any  right,  privilege,  obligation  or  liability  acquired,  accrued  or  incurred  under   the  said 

Regulation, or 

(c)  any  penalty,  forfeiture  or  punishment  in  respect  of  any  offence  committed  under  the  said 

Regulation, or 

(d)  any  investigation,  legal  proceeding  or  remedy  in  respect  of  any  right,  privilege,  obligation, 

liability, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment as aforesaid, 

and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any 
such penalty, forfeiture of punishment may be imposed as if this Act had not been passed: 

Provided further that  subject to the above  provisions,  anything  done  or  any  action  taken (including 
any  appointment  or  delegation  made  or  any  notification,  instruction  or  direction  issued  or  any  rule, 
regulation or form made or framed) under the said Regulation shall in so far as such thing or action is not 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue in force, and be deemed to have been done or taken 
under the corresponding provisions of this Act, unless and until it is superseded by anything done or any 
action taken under the provisions of this Act. 

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THE SCHEDULE 

[See section 20] 

OFFENCES TRIABLE BY A VILLAGE COURT 

1. Offences under sections 24, 26 and 27 of the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871 (1 of 1871). 

2.  Offences under  enactments (other than the  Indian Penal  Code  (45  of 1860) and  this  Act)  or  any 
rules  and  bye-laws  made  thereunder  which  are  punishable  with  fine  only  upto  a  limit  of  two  hundred 
rupees. 

3. Offences under section 34 of the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861). 

4. Offences under the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), namely:— 

sections 160, 178, 179, 269, 277, 289, 290, 294, 323, 334, 341, 352, 358, 426, 447,  448, 504 and 
510; and when the value of the property in the opinion of the village court is not over two hundred 
rupees, sections 379 and 411. 

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